Last second three-point play by Pomona-Pitzer stuns CMS

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The latest installment of the men's basketball Sixth Street Rivalry proved to be yet another Instant Classic. Unfortunately for Claremont-Mudd-Scripps fans, this time Pomona-Pitzer pulled out the last second win, 58-57, on a three-point play with 5.4 seconds left by Kyle McAndrews. With the win on Jan. 24 in front of a packed house of 2,470 at Voelkel Gymnasium, Pomona-Pitzer improved to 4-12 overall, 2-5 in SCIAC, while CMS fell to 12-4, 5-2 in SCIAC.

McAndrews had 16 points in the game and hit some tough shots throughout, but he saved his best shot for the Sagehens' last possession of the game. Down 57-55, McAndrews took the ball on the right wing, circled around to the top of the key and then drove left and hit a left handed layup to tie the game as he was fouled. He then hit his free throw to put Pomona-Pitzer ahead by a point. A game-winning three-point attempt by CMS' Tyler Gaffaney (CGU) from deep on the left wing bounced off the rim as the buzzer sounded. CMS led by four points at 57-53 with 40 seconds left after a pair of free throws by Gaffaney who had a game-high 24 points.

Pomona-Pitzer had led by as many as nine points in the second half at 40-31 with 12:34 remaining on another three-point play by McAndrews. CMS rallied and took the lead back at 44-43 with 8:20 left on free throws by Gaffaney. The teams then went back and forth over the remaining minutes of the game. 

In the first half, both teams struggled from the field, shooting under 40 percent. CMS led 22-21 at the break. All told, the game was tied four times and there were 10 lead changes over the 40 minutes of play. The game could not have been much closer on the scoreboard and the box score showed that as the teams were pretty close in nearly every statistical category, except for shooting percentage. Pomona-Pitzer shot 50 percent from the field for the game and 60 percent in the second half while holding CMS to 38 percent shooting on the night.

Joining Gaffaney in double-figure scoring for CMS was junior center Nick Lund (CMC) who had 10 points off the bench, while senior guard Jack Grodahl (CMC) had nine points. Junior center Shelby Lane (CMC) had a game-high nine rebounds for CMS. McAndrews, Michael Cohen (10), Joe Eyen (11) and Gibson Farone Collins (10) each scored in double figures for Pomona-Pitzer. 

CMS next plays Occidental at home on Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m. CMS and Pomona-Pitzer play again on Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Boxscore

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